26 THE SEA. 



Monson; some cattle were killed, and the pseudo-pirates,, swaggering and rollicking, 

 were invited to Cormat's house, where they received a riotous welcome. Cormat's two 

 ambassadors went on board Mouson's vessel, and delivered a friendly message. When 

 they had delivered it, Sir William desired them to observe everything around them 

 carefully, and to tell him whether they thought that ship and company were pirates. It 

 was idle to dissemble any longer, especially as these men could not, if they would, betray Sir 

 William's design. He accordingly reproached them for their transgressions, told them to 

 prepare for death, and ordered them tfo be put in irons, taking care that neither boat nor man 

 should be allowed to go on shore until he was ready to land. When he at length went 

 ashore to visit Cor mat, four or five hundred people had assembled on the beach to receive 

 the famous " Captain Manwaring." He pretended to be doubtful of their intentions, when 

 they redoubled their protestations of friendship, three of the principal men running into 

 the water up to their arm-pits, striving who should have the honour of carrying him ashore. 

 One of these was an Irish merchant, who did a thriving trade with the pirates; another 

 was a schoolmaster; and the third was an Englishman, who had formerly been a tradesman 

 in London. These gentry conducted Sir William to Cormat's house amidst huzzas and 

 shouts of welcome, everybody seeking to ingratiate himself with the supposed pirate. 

 " ( Happy was he/ says Monson, ' to whom he would lend his ear/ Falling into discourse, 

 one told him they knew his friends, and though his name had not discovered it, yet his face 

 did show him to be a Manwaring." In short, they made him believe he might command 

 them and their country, and that no man ever was so welcome as Captain Manwaring. 

 At the house a scene of revelry ensued ; the harper played merrily for the company, who 

 danced on the floor, which had been newly strewed with rushes for the occasion. The women 

 made endless inquiries for their distant lovers, and no suspicion seems to have crossed the 

 minds of any in regard to the fate of the two ambassadors, who were supposed to be enjoying 

 themselves with the sailors on board. In the height of the festivities, the Englishman was 

 particularly communicative ; showed Sir William a pass for the interior which he had obtained 

 by false pretences from the sheriff, authorising him to travel from Clare to make inquisition 

 for goods supposed to have been lost at sea, and which enabled him to journey and sell his 

 plunder without suspicion. He even proffered the services of ten mariners who were hiding 

 in the neighbourhood, and Monson, of course, pretended heartily to accept their services, 

 promising a reward. He asked the man to write them a letter, which at once he did as 

 follows : " Honest brother Dick and the rest, we are all made men, for valiant Captain 

 Manwaring and all his gallant crew are arrived in this place. Make haste, for he flourisheth 

 in wealth, and is most kind to all men. Farewell, and once again make haste/' Monson 

 took charge of the letter, and would, doubtless, have used it, had not the approach of night 

 obliged him to bring about the denouement of this play. The comedy was all at once to 

 change into a tragedy. 



In the midst of their riotous mirth, he suddenly desired the harper to cease, and in 

 serious and solemn tones commanded silence. He told them that, hitherto, " they had played 

 their part, and he had no share in the comedy; but though his was last, and might be termed 

 the epilogue, yet it would prove more tragical than theirs." He undeceived them as to his 

 being a pirate, and declared his real business was to punish and suppress all such, whom his 



